Symptoms:

• Cough, especially after eating
• Excessive crying as if in pain
• Excessive vomiting during the first few weeks of life; worse after eating
• Extremely forceful vomiting
• Not feeding well
• Refusing to eat
• Slow growth
• Weight loss
• Wheezing or other breathing problems

Signs and tests:

The health care provider can often make the diagnosis based on the infant's symptoms and physical examination.

Tests may be ordered if your child is not healthy or growing well, or when symptoms are severe and do not get better with treatment. Tests that may be done include:

• Esophageal pH monitoring to determine how often and for how long stomach acid enters the esophagus
• X-ray of the esophagus
• X-ray of the upper gastrointestinal system after the baby has been given a special liquid, called contrast, to drink